Chapter 3: A new world

Harry son of James opened his eyes, and did not know where he was. He remembered collapsing after his aunt swung at him and the sharp pain right above his left ear, then nothing. This wasn't his cupboard under the stairs. He slowly examined the room around him and the wooden and stone structure he found himself in. Sitting in the middle of the room legs crossed was a woman in a blindingly white outfit. Brown hair covered her shoulders her breathing soft.

He moved to sit up feeling better than he had in ages. the noise pulled the herald out of her meditation.

"Ah you're awake" she said softly.

"I don't understand you," he replied a little fearful.

She sensed his fear and confusion and sent a wave of calm to counter it. He relaxed as the calm feeling radiating from her surrounded him. She looked at him with an odd expression before pointing at herself and saying "Sian" then pointing back at him.

He understood almost instantly pointing at her, "Sian" she nodded encouragingly and pointed back at him. He pointed to himself and frowned for a moment before his face lit up happily, "Harry!" he said with a broad grin.

His stomach grumbled rather loudly interrupting their discourse. he looked down for a moment motioned to his stomach and mimed eating. "Hungry."

"Hungry eh?" Sian asked even though she knew he didn't know what she was saying. She walked over to the stove where she had a stew cooking from dried meat that had been stored in the larder beneath the waystation. Dishing out some broth she carried it over to the small child and helped him grasp the wooden bowl and bring it to his lips so he could sip.

Her companion had been strangely quiet since she found him in the woods a few days ago. Making the briefest of comments before going back to whatever he was doing, he had sounded distant, distracted. She wondered what could be pulling his attention back to the others at companion's field.

:Nolan, you've been awfully quiet lately. What do you make of our guest?:

At her call young harry looked up puzzled. "What was that?"

:You're a mindspeaker?: Sian asked aiming her thoughts his direction.

"That tickles. What's a mindspeaker?" he asked not realizing he said mindspeaker in her language instead of his own.

She guessed his question and sent her reply back. :Mind speakers can send thoughts directly to other people. you have a very strong gift to sense me talking with Nolan. I still can't understand you when you speak aloud but you seem to be picking up my language from my mind when I talk with you like this.:

Harry sat and thought for a moment before grinning back at Sian a look of fierce concentration crossed his face as he examined what he wanted to do and then sent out, :Hows this?:

:A little loud but you seem to have gotten the hang of it. Can you tell me why you were alone in the forest at night little one?:

:I don't know, my aunt had hit me in the head after I dropped the scrambled eggs on the floor, Last thing I remember is falling to the floor, my head hurt so much. She was already upset with me for turning a teacher's hair blue at school.:

Sian got a hint of a severe looking woman with electric blue hair scowling and couldn't help but laugh at the image. She continued projecting calm and soothing emotions at the boy all while seething that his family would treat someone with such powerful gifts like they had.

:Feel up to walking around today?: She asked after several calming breaths. :We need to make sure Nolan hasn't gotten himself into any trouble.:

:Your old clothing was quite ruined and far too big for you. Try on these.: Sian held up a pair of grey trainee clothes that were stored within the shelter.

After he slipped into the new clothing that fit far better than any he had worn before and was definitely far more comfortable. They both exited the shelter to tend to Nolan. Harry's green eyes grew round as dinner plates at the beautiful white horse with pale blue eyes standing before him. Never in his life had he imagined a creature of such grace and beauty. Nolan's white coat reflected the morning sun. Without pausing to consider what he was doing he walked forward and mindspoke to the companion. :hello?:

Nolans rich voice echoed back in his mind. :Hello little one, you can touch me, I'm not going to disappear and your hand won't go through me like an illusion.:

Harry reached a hand up to tentatively scratch behind Nolan's ears.

:His gift is strong Sian, he will need better shields before he can be in a city.: Nolan sent the message tightly shielded to Sian.

Even with heavier shielding Harry still noticed that someone said something. But he ignored it for now He was enjoying himself combing Nolan's shining coat.

He was still weak from lack of food and tired from the days events, he fell asleep without giving Sian more than a token effort to stay awake. She found his efforts amusing, reminding her of the younger brothers she'd left back home after being chosen.

:His shields have almost doubled in strength since this morning.:

:Don't tell him but we are going to have a visitor tomorrow. She should get here midday.:

:Oh? is that why you've been almost unresponsive since we found him.:

:If you must know, Alastrine was insistent I relay every observation of the young one after I sent the first message back.:

Sian raised her brow at this, Alastrine was Nolan's daughter. It had been five years since she foaled and she had insisted that her chosen was not yet here.

She drifted off to sleep considering what was to come.